Residential Life Staff Member Honored with James C. Grimm Outstanding New Professional Award

Coordinator for Residential Accountability Xavi Boes was recently named the recipient of the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) James C. Grimm Outstanding New Professional Award.  

This award honors early-career professionals who have demonstrated excellence and promise in the field of housing and residence life. Boes, who joined the Residential Life staff in June 2023, has been lauded for his dedication, innovation, and student-centered approach. 

“In just a year and a half, Xavi has revamped critical training materials within Residential Policy, ensuring that staff members across learning styles have the tools they need,” said Kara Helgeson, Assistant Director of Residential Policy. “He holds weekly open office hours for staff and is always available to support in-community members. His commitment to this role has been unwavering.” 

Boes’ responsibilities extend beyond policy development; he has overseen hundreds of student cases through LSU’s case management system. His timely and fair approach to student conduct has left a lasting impression, not just on colleagues, but on the students, he works with.

A student who went through the accountability process under Boes’ guidance shared, “He was consistently helpful and understanding throughout the whole process. He made me feel as though my opinion was important and ensured that I was treated fairly. Working with him has positively shifted my life in a few different ways.”

Boes’ leadership extends into conflict resolution, where he has spearheaded efforts to improve the resolution process for students and staff alike. He has worked closely with the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX to integrate conflict resolution education into student programming. Jeannie Hopper, Director of Residential Education, praised Boes’ ability to step up when supervisors were unavailable in high-stakes situations.

“There were several times in the past year when Xavi was delegated high-level decision-making responsibilities. Student conduct issues don’t wait for convenient times, and when crises arose, Xavi collaborated with me directly to ensure student safety and uphold fairness,” Hopper stated. “Even in challenging moments, he demonstrated professionalism, diligence, and an unwavering commitment to our students.”

With a proven track record of dedication and excellence, Boes’ will continue to make an impact on the lives on students at LSU.